Chapter 260: Updating the Stubborn Han Duo for the Power Game

Apart from hand signals and slang, the Hong Gate has always mainly relied on tea formations; in the past, the Heaven and Earth Society's members often used tea houses in liquor markets as contact points, where tea formations played a crucial role—besides the loyalty and righteousness formation and the rescue formation, there was also the wood poplar formation used to test each other's identities.

For example, the setup Chen Xiao laid out was precisely the Hong Gate's legendary wood poplar tea formation used to test each other's identities—seemingly just a tea invitation, but if you lifted that cup and drank it all in one gulp, the surrounding Hong Gate men would blast open a hole in your head.

The proper way to counter it is to place the tea from outside the plate into the tea, then lift it up and offer it.

'Within Wood Poplar City lies the universe; loyalty depends solely on a point of Hong. Today, sworn brother, I come to interrogate— a flood dragon from the South Sea East Mausoleum.' After moving the plate, I lifted the tea cup and drank it all in one gulp, then announced my name.

'So you're from the East Mausoleum; I don't know what relation you have with the Southern Heavenly King,' Chen Xiao asked doubtfully.

Although the probing was over, words alone held no proof, so I immediately produced the gold coin I carried and handed it to Chen Xiao. The coin was a gift from Fan Wuchang, said to be connected to a certain founder of the Hong Gate.

'A point of red rises in the east; Qin Qiong rides his horse over Shandong, beneath him a yellow piebald horse, visiting brothers across the four seas and five lakes. Su Qin of the Six States visits Zhang Yi; King Wen of the Wei River visits Tai Gong; Zhang Liang, sword on back, visits Han Xin; Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei visit the Crouching Dragon; Jing De visits the white-robed general; heroes of the world visit heroes; outstanding figures of the underworld visit friends; only brothers have nowhere to go—today I am fortunate to meet you, brother; the gratitude of sworn brothers has nowhere to be repaid; the bond of brothers cannot be found; passing through the gate is not clear; I pray for the sea's tolerance, sea's tolerance…'

After seeing the gold coin, Chen Xiao's expression changed instantly; he rose to his feet, clasped his fists, and recited a Hong Gate poem of greeting friends.

'Boss Chen, it's not that we don't want to help, but my friend here is injured, willing but unable; please excuse us.' I likewise clasped my fists and bowed, believing that with the East Mausoleum's protection, Chen Xiao would not dare to make things difficult for us.

After hearing my words, Chen Xiao's face fell into a grim, ashen hue. Unexpectedly, Han Duo then blurted out these words.

Han Duo stared at Chen Xiao and said, 'I want three million; if you can give it to me, I'll help you find the murderer.'

'Are you crazy? What's your condition now…' I never imagined Han Duo would suddenly say such a thing. Although I don't know who killed Chen Xiao's son, the corpse exuded a grinning chill that shows the person's skill is at least three times mine; someone like that, even Han Duo at her peak might not be a match.

'I only need three million—first pay one million as a deposit; after I find the murderer, you'll pay the rest clearly. If you agree to my demand, I'll take this job.' Han Duo ignored me and continued pressing Chen Xiao.

'No problem—don't say three million; even if you wanted three times more, I'd give it.' Chen Xiao was excited, trembling as he urged his subordinates to write a check. Until Chen Xiao and Han Duo signed the contract, I remained stunned, like a block of wood, unable to snap out of it.

I had originally planned to take out the gold coin Fan Wuchang gave me, reveal my identity, and make Chen Xiao back off; but now that Han Duo and Chen Xiao have signed a contract together, intervening would violate jianghu ethics, bullying the weak—no matter which gang you're in, nobody would step in to help. Out in the world, even when fighting, you need a plausible excuse, a just cause.

After leaving Chen Xiao's villa with Han Duo, just as we ran out the gate, I couldn't wait to start questioning her.

'Han Duo, are you crazy? You clearly know you need rest now, so why take on this job? Don't you see that the hole in Chen Xiao's son's skullcap couldn't have been made by an ordinary magical device?'

I earnestly advised her, but all I got was Han Duo's indifference. I don't know why; ever since leaving the villa, her face has remained gloomy—even though I pleaded behind her, she kept a stern expression, walking ahead without glancing at me.

'I'll do whatever I want; what's it to you, you one‑eyed dragon?' Han Duo finally couldn't stand my nagging, turned and shouted at me: 'Don't you think you're like a gossipy old woman? Nobody wants you to meddle, yet you shamelessly cling on.'

'Damn it, my good intentions are being struck by lightning—I'm clearly looking out for you; if you don't appreciate it, fine, but you're insulting me?' Instantly I flared with anger, my good intentions feeling as wasted as feeding a donkey's lungs.

'Fine, you're so capable—do whatever you like, I can't control you.' I'm no pushover either, and I won't stick my warm face to a cold butt; since Han Duo won't appreciate me, I have nothing more to say.

My head buzzing with anger, I turned and walked away, too lazy to say another word to Han Duo. On the road, a blaze of fury surged in my heart—truly, for the first time ever. I cared so much for someone, only to have my good intentions struck by lightning; not only was I unappreciated, but I was also cursed out.

Only after walking to the end of the street and drinking a cup of iced cooling tea did my excited mood gradually calm. But… once I had calmed down, the more I thought about it, the stranger it seemed, as if the whole affair leaked a hint of suspicion.

I mean Han Duo's attitude toward me; although her personality is a bit stubborn, her sense of responsibility is quite strong. I've rescued her repeatedly—even if she isn't grateful, she shouldn't turn against me and refuse to acknowledge me, right?

The more I thought, the stranger it felt—until I recalled the huge hole in Chen Xiao's son's skullcap, when a flash of sudden realization struck my mind.

That's right…… Han Duo isn't repaying kindness with resentment; she's worried I'm in danger, so she deliberately insulted me to make me angry and drive me away.

Whether or not I'm being sentimental, if Han Duo investigates this, she's surely marching to certain death. As a friend, even if I can't stop her from risking herself, I ought to at least lend her a hand.

Just as the thought turned, I spun around and headed back—but when I returned to the spot where we'd argued, Han Duo was gone. Frightened, I ran everywhere searching for her, scouring every street corner.

Finally, I found Han Duo on a step at a street corner, sitting there hugging her knees; as I approached, I heard sobbing sounds. She was actually crying?

At that moment, the sky suddenly darkened; thick clouds covered the heavens, and a heavy rain poured down with rumbling crashes, the raindrops mercilessly lashing Han Duo's body and soaking her clothes.

'Han Duo, hurry up—it's raining.' I took off my coat, quickly stepped forward to shield Han Duo, and just as I neared her, something happened that I could not have foreseen.

Han Duo suddenly threw her arms tightly around me, head lowered, she wailed loudly on my shoulder, letting me instantly feel a soft fragrance in my embrace.

Instantly my mind went blank; I forgot what I wanted to say, all my earlier doubts were tossed to the west, and my little heart pounded nonstop. This situation of having tofu delivered to my door—I've never seen anything like it.

The two of us embraced at the street corner, the heavy rain splashing down; I could almost feel the impact of raindrops striking my head, and besides, both of our clothes were completely soaked……

After a long while, I finally came to, took a deep breath, and softly called out: 'Han Duo'.

'Mm'.

'Even if, even if you want to eat my tofu, couldn't we change the place to eat? Out on the street, we're all still getting drenched in the rain…'

Han Duo suddenly turned fierce, biting down hard on my shoulder and refusing to let go.

'Let go, let go… I'm telling you, you weirdo, why do you have this habit—liking to eat tofu while getting drenched in the rain? Eating tofu is bad enough, but tofu isn't your enemy; why bite so hard? Listen to me: this habit is a bad flaw, it must be changed, it absolutely must be changed, otherwise once you're used to it you'll get fever and colds.' Pain, piercing to the heart, this lass Han Duo must be born in the Year of the Dog—she bites people like second nature, the force of her lower jaw making anyone feel numb all over.

Hardly had the words been spoken when it happened again—a sudden storm of wind, rain, lightning, and thunder struck before I could recover; Han Duo then launched a flying kick to my groin, the pain so intense I dropped straight to the ground, covering my groin.

'Hai Sheng Chen, you bastard.' A sharp scolding came from Han Duo's ear; I lifted my head and saw Han Duo, her face flushed crimson, standing in the rain.